No, Kendrick Lamar didn’t walk away from the 58th Grammy Awards with Album of the Year, but he let his influence linger in may ways, by winning best Rap Album, giving a stunning performance, and bringing Compton High School students to the ceremony.

The rapper brought a group of students from his hometown to the STAPLES Center for the awards show, courtesy of Reebok. They were given gift bags along with a fresh pair of shoes.

“It just reminds me of where you come from, and I can see they’re full of energy the way I used to have it, just motivation to want to do something with yourselves,” Lamar says. “In the next 10 year from now, hopefully they’d be further from where I’m at.”

In addition, the students spent time with Lamar beforehand and were able to ask him questions, such as who his main musical influences were.

“Probably the Isley Brothers, and Snoop and Dre — if I can narrow it down,” he told them.